4. Standards and templates (usability, accessibility, etc.)

If we use WordPress, it will use a template design that is programmed/coded by me.

This is called a theme and can be changed to another theme if needed.

The advantage to using a theme is that you only have to add a new page or post, insert the content and click publish.

Consistency is key:

The pages and posts will all have the same look and feel.

The website will be uniform in appearance at all times.

Naming conventions will be established

Usability

A person of average technical ability must be able to navigate your website easily which means eliminating question marks in the minds of the users.

Here’s a good definition of usability:

A person of average (or even below average) ability and experience needs to be able to figure out how to use a thing to accomplish something without it being more trouble than it’s worth.

Accessibility

Users with disabilities are supposed to be able to access and use your website without problems, just as wheelchair ramps and lifts are supposed to be installed in public spaces, amenities, buildings etc.

Accessibility for websites involves, among other things, making sure blind or partially-sighted users can operate the site. These people tend to use screen readers, which is a piece of software that reads text aloud.

Images must be labelled in such a way that screen-readers can say, for example, “Picture of cat crouching in the grass.”

5. Basic layout creation

I’ll create a basic website layout using the criteria discussed and agreed. This will be done in HTML, PHP, CSS and Javascript.

You’ll be presented with one or two pages in the form of a 2-3 minute private YouTube video.

If you’re curious to know about website programming languages:

HTML is about the structure

PHP is for sending data

CSS is about the colours

Javascript is for interactions, animations and moving parts

6. Validate Mockup

With further discussion, addition, subtraction, trial and error we’ll tweak and revise the layout.

A private YouTube demo video will be emailed to you. A private version of the site will be uploaded for you to look at too.

We’ll settle on a version of the layout that will be suitable for your website visitors although some of this is likely to evolve throughout the rest of the project, which is normal.